So how’s this for an alarming trend…..No less than five times this semester (yes I counted) a friend has told me about hooking up with a guy who refused to wear a condom (heterosexuals and homosexuals alike). Luckily only one out of the five fell for the con. But what is with this and how did we magically get to the point where HIV/AIDS (not to mention other STDs) is no longer a worry?
 
             Hey, AIDS is STILL A PROBLEM! (and yes, this problem can go both ways—girls, pressuring guys to do it without protection is not right! Everything below applies to you too!)  Surprisingly, this trend affects more than just wealthy, majority white Cornell students (who’d have thought it?). HIV/AIDS disproportionately affects minorities,  especially African-Americans and Latino-Americans. Infections are increasing at alarming rates in places like DC, where experts think that the rise is largely due to the fact that people, especially young people, are under the impression that HIV/AIDS is under control. Read: DC now has rates of HIV higher than some countries in West Africa! . I’m not saying this to put DC on blast because trust me I love the chocolate city MORE than the next person, but people, we have to put our safety first and this is what happens when we do not.
      If you can’t get it up wearing a condom, that is a serious issue that you need to look into. We live in the post-HIV world, period. You can’t just go around banging without condoms, we’re trying to have a society here! Or at least get your doctor’s advice about the following options: (1) new female condoms are looser and may help with erectile problems (not to mention the female condom 2 just got approved by the FDA ), (2)  there are a wide variety of condoms and lubricants, perhaps experimenting with different combinations may yield better results, (3) talk to your doctor about erectile disfunction—there may be a serious underlying problem. Also for those liars who really can get it up with a condom on but prefer the way it feels without one – do you also get off on spreading disease? Well, if not that’s certainly what it seems like to me!
    And some words for the receiving partner – you should know by now that you will be the one with the higher risk of STDs because the sperm will remain inside you long after your partner pulls out. Not only that, remember that most new HIV/AIDS cases happen to those who THINK they are in monogamous relationships. It is important that you have the power to negotiate safe sex with your partner—if you do not, you may be in an abusive relationship.

And there is also now something to protect people during oral sex as well - called the Dental Dam: 


            Everyone (all legal-aged, consenting adults) should be able to enjoy sex and its amazingness—please use protection and do not fall for this weak game!